TUC general secretary John Monks will address the region's manufacturing partners today.

He will tell delegates from the regional development agency One NorthEast, the North East Chamber of Commerce, the North East Assembly, the CBI, Engineering Employers Federation and Newcastle City Council, skills and training are key to future manufacturing success.

He will speak at the region's first manufacturing summit, in Newcastle Civic Centre.

He will say: "The North-East is suffering the worst unemployment in the country because of the decimation of manufacturing.

"In the short-term, we need to ensure that the extra funds for regional industrial development, announced by the Chancellor this week, sustain viable businesses through difficult times. In the long term, there can be no doubt that skills and training are the future.

"A high tech and high skilled economy will leave the region behind unless unions, employers and government work in partnership to boost skills and training."

The four learning and skills councils in the North-East are to establish a regional learning fund for unions. The Learning for All fund will support up to 20 union-led projects to tackle literacy and numeracy skills gaps.

Mr Monks will also visit Electrolux in Spennymoor, to present certificates to staff who have gained NVQ qualifications through a union lifelong learning project.